This handbook was produced by the Yollocalli Arts Reach and is posted in DML Central.  It  serves to help other organizations create informal learning spaces that empower youth. The concept of HOMAGO (Hang Out, Mess Around and Geek Out) is based on the work of Mimi Ito and refers to three arenas where kids can socialize, play, and learn from one other using physical spaces as well as social and new media. 

Check out this infographic from PBS LearningMedia that accompanies their report that teachers are embracing digital media in greater numbers. Educators are leveraging technology and incorporating multimedia into their lessons with greater frequency.  

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium’s Technology Strategy Framework and System Requirements Specifications provide minimum hardware specifications and basic bandwidth calculations that allow U.S. schools and districts to evaluate which of their existing computers will support the administration of the assessment system in the 2014-15 school year. The framework was developed with input and feedback from Smarter Balanced member states, work groups, and data from the Technology Readiness Tool, an online inventory of technology…

This document was prepared by the Career Readiness Partner Council, a broad-based coalition of U.S. education, policy, business, and philanthropic organizations that strives to forward a more comprehensive vision for what it means to be career ready. The Council hopes this vision spurs conversation and action in communities across the country.

This framework from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium guides translation of math assessments for English-language learners (ELLs). In addition to addressing the diverse linguistics backgrounds of ELLs, the framework proposes several translation accommodations options and makes recommendations for successfully implementing each alternative in the assessment system.

This information sheet showcases the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media and Learning initiative, launched in 2006 to explore how digital media are changing the way young people learn, socialize, communicate, and play. Since 2006, MacArthur has awarded grants totaling more than $100 million for research, development of innovative new technologies, new learning environments for youth–including a school model based on game design principles–and efforts to build the new field of digital media and learning.

Can we be smarter about taking high-quality online and blended schools to scale—and to educational success? Yes, says this Fordham Institute publiciation, which addresses controversial policy issues such as quality control, staffing, funding, and governance for the digital sector.    If you found this resource useful, please Recommend, Comment, Share!

This Brookings paper discusses how the emergence of new collaborative platforms–blogs, wikis, other social media, and video games–has altered the way individuals and organizations relate to one another, especially in the classroom. In conclusion, author Darrell West notes that students, teachers, parents, and administrators can leverage digital communications to share insights and to develop a better understanding of instructional activities.   If you found this resource useful, please Recommend, Comment, Share!